Buhay Iska #1: I found my Ohana.
It's a scary word.
Really. It is.
but somehow, I wasn’t afraid.
As you all know, stepping into a new academic world is not my forte. I had been attending the same school since kindergarten 'till my high school graduation. I do not know what it means to be a "new student" in a "new school" and experiencing a "new environment". I've been with the same people every single year and I can even predict what section I'm going to be the following year. I was totes right most of the time hehe. I had been living the same life every single year in the same school.
^ All the more reason to venture out from it. *winks*
Don't get me wrong. I love my alma mater just as much, but
COLLEGE? Oh wow, where do I even begin?
Flashback time! Back in High school, I had high hopes in passing the so-called TOP UNIVERSITY in the Philippines, nevertheless I had my fingers crossed on the other three college entrance exams I passed (DLSUCET, ACET, USTET). Results came out and praise God, I passed the University of the Philippines! I had mixed feelings—joy, disappointment (because I wanted to take a different course), excitement, nervousness—EVERYTHING! But I guess nothing beat the time when I first entered school, attended pre-school activities for freshmen, and went into my first class.
My very first class was Political Science 1 at in CAS or popularly known as Hum building. And dude DUDE. I was shocked. And eccentric at the same time. There were already students doing those prerogs, asking for slots, or rather, begging for it. I know this had been introduced to us at the orientation but ya'll know I was too busy eyeing out for some hotties. Lol kidding I wasn't really listening that much. Then there were already student activists rallying just outside the building (Hum steps) and it was something about education being a right. We couldn't start the class right away because those students' voices were overlapping with our professors's voice. He wasn't as shocked as I was and I'm guessing it's a norm to encounter things like that but NOPE! Not for me. I was a freshie, and everything I see is freshly new in my eyes.
But what do I like about college and UPLB that made me ridiculously homesick for a few weeks after I flew to Singapore for midyear break? I'll give you a list of things I enjoyed while spending my very first academic year:
That’s what most people would describe my bloc section from the first semester of my freshman year as. CLINGY daw kami, and I am in no position for denial. This is so on point. In fact, We were literally dubbed as the best bloc overall, and there were almost 70+ sections in our batch. At the very first meeting, we all got along well with each other. It’s like we just clicked. We knew it, we all felt it. Compared to other sections, we were one of the loudest people during campus tour. We would usually have bloc lunch where we eat lunch together in one place and finding a decent place to eat with us was always a dilemma. Each week, we get to meet each other with our facilitators (facis) and adviser for one hour. Most of us, if not all, never missed a meeting. Even for second semester where there are no blocs or sections anymore, we would still find time to at least spend time with each other.
So I was just chilling with my friends at the Student Union Building (also known as S.U.), jamming while playing the guitar, when this particular girl, who I guessed is an upperclassman, was persuading us to audition this so-called theatre play performed by new freshmen only. At first, I didn’t want to, but her persuading skills got me and finally gave in. I also thought it was a good chance for me to experience anew, expand my connections and meet new people. Plus, we were all freshmen so this first-hand embarrassment won’t be experienced by me alone. I thought that when I didn’t pass the audition, I’ve got nothing to lose.
Oh, but I passed the audition.
And rather than losing, I gained a lot.
I played the role of a student working in the registration area, who seem to be annoyed with pretty much everyone in that place mainly because of the reason that it was very hot and she was very sweaty at that time. I got a few lines myself, and other mini roles that help build up the comedic parts of the play.
Rehearsals lasted for about 2 months and a half. Although, it was tiring, I enjoyed practicing with my fellow actors if I do say so myself. And it was all worth it at the end.
MRH PEOPLE (Men’s Residence Hall aka Men’s Dorm)
This includes my roommates and dormmates for which I am very thankful having met them during my first year in college. This is one of my happy places on Earth. I think it’s safe to say that my freshman year wouldn’t be complete if I hadn’t met them.
I also went to church during my first and second semester. I attended Victory LB which was located just outside the U.P. Gate and met lots of new people, most are UP students, and people I’ve already met who also attend the youth services. The services there is just WOW! Each was very helpful with my academic life, let alone my life itself. I even got to join IGNITE 2015 with them. All glory to God alone!
Of course I wouldn’t leave out different people that I have encountered from the subjects I got enlisted to. For those who don’t know yet, we UP students do not have any “permanent bloc section” for our year and course, that’s only for the first semester of your freshman year. No two schedules are alike (if there are, it is quite rare), thus we meet different people from different courses and different batches--they may be in the same year as you, or an underclassmen/upperclassmen.
[disclaimer: Some of the pictures used in this post are not mine unless stated. Photos grabbed from Mio Mamon, Paulo Zipagan, Victory LB, and Isko’t Iska 2014 Facebook Group]
